Land leveler



y 1966 L. J. LITHERLAND 3,

LAND LEVELER Filed April 10, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

32 J! [/THERL/M/D July 19, 1966 1.. J. LITHERLAND LAND LEVELER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 10, 1964 INVENTOR. 1.41/1 JA ZQZR I %m 54/; ATIWK/VEF United States Patent 3,261,118 LAND LEVELER Levi J. Litherland, R.R. 1, Allendale, Ill. Filed Apr. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 358,709 Claims. (Cl. 37-180) My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a land leveler and more particularly to an implement adapted for attachment to a pair of farm tractors, or the like, which operate to supply the motivating operating power for such implement.

An object of this invention is to provide in an apparatus of this character an elongated leveling blade which is carried by a tubular supporting body and which is readily attached to a pair of tractors, the connection between the blade and the tractor being such that the blade may be pulled by such tractors while it extends through a diagonal plane with respect to the ground over which it passes.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a land leveler of this character a tubular support body, the construction of which is light in weight while at the same time providing the structural strength needed to prevent the leveling blade from bending or humping during its operation.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide in an apparatus of this character a means for pneumatically positioning a wheel structure relative to the blade and supporting body thereof for adjusting both the level and depth of cut of the leveling blade during its operation.

An equally important object of my invention is to provide in a land leveler of this character a construction arrangement whereby the apparatus may be readily collapsed into a highly portable condition.

A still further important object of my invention is to provide in an apparatus of this character a pneumatic means and arrangement for raising and lowering a pair of caster unit wheel mountings which rotatably support the leveling blade and which determine the level and depth of cut of such blade.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my invention in operation;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view showing a portion of my invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary detail side elevati-onal view showing the caster-type wheel mounting as associated with my invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the caster type wheel mounting;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the tractor hitch arrangement;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of my apparatus in its portable condition; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the castertype wheel mounting in a semi-raised condition.

My improved land leveler comprises an elongated arcuate scraper blade 10 which is fixedly attached to the underside of a forward longitudinally extending structural member 11 which comprises a portion of the blade carriage 12.

The blade carriage 12 is in the form of an elongated, rectangularly-shaped tubular structure comprising in part the forward longitudinal member 11 which in turn is connected by a series of diagonal cross supports 13 to a parallelly extending rear longitudinal member 14.

3,261,118 Patented July 19, 1966 As shown in FIG. 1, the blade carriage 12 is adapted to be supported at its rear side by a pair of caster-type wheel units 15. Each of these wheel unit 15 is 'pivotally connected to the rear longitudinal member 14 in the following manner. For each wheel unit 15 I provide a pair of tubular bearing elements 16 and 17 which are freely journaled upon the rear longitudinal member 14. The rear longitudinal member 14 provides a plurality of vertical posts 18 which are positioned adjacent the opposite ends of the bearing elements 16 and 17 as shown in FIG. 2. These vertical posts 18 carry attaching bolts 19 for removably connecting the inner ends of a pair of upper support arms 20. These upper support arms 20 have their opposite converging ends welded to a face plate 21, which in turn is removably connected by a bolt 22 to a U-shaped socket support 23.

In vertical alignment beneath the upper support arms 20 are enlarged lower support arms 24. The inner ends of these lower support arms 24 are welded to the bearing element 16 while their opposite converging ends are welded to a face plate 25 which in turn is connected to,

the U-shaped socket support 23 by a'bolt 26 (see FIG. 3).

Within the spaced apart arms of the U-shaped socket support 23, and welded therebetween is a cylindrical socket or bearing 27. This socket 27 rotatably houses a circular stem 28 which is a part of the horizontal base 29 of an inverted E shaped caster type wheel mounting 30. The circular stem 28 is rotatably retained in the socket 27 by a lock collar 30 attached to the upper exposed end thereof as seen in FIGS. .3 and 4.

Rotatably supported on a shaft 31 between the arms 32 of the inverted E shaped caster-type wheel mounting 30 are a pair of roller-type wheels 33. As shown in FIG. 1, due to the elongated length of the land leveler there are two such caster-type wheel mountings which support the same and which are identical in structure and. operation.

Extending horizontally between the varying elements 16 and lower support arms 24 are a pair of brace 34. Welded between these parallelly extending braces 34 is a connecting rod 35. Hingedly connected to this rod 35 is the free end of each of a pair of spaced apart parallelly extending levers 37. The opposite upper ends of these pivot levers 37 (FIGS. 2 and 3) are connected by a bolt 38 to a corresponding parallelly extend ing pair of link arms 39. These link arms 39 are in turn removably connected at one end thereof, by a cylinder pin 40 to the free end of a cylinder plunger 41, while their opposite lower ends are hingedly connected to a rod 39' which extends between and is welded to the braces 34 as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. A pivot link 42 is freely journaled upon the rod 39' between the link arms 39. The purpose and function of this pivot link 42 will be hereinafter made apparent.

Carried by a horizontal structural member 43 which is connected to the confronting ends of the diagonal cross support 13 immediately to the rear of the bearing elements 16 and 17 and welded to the member 14 is a vertically disposed plate 44 (FIGS. 2 and 3) which pivotally supports a pneumatic cylinder 45. This cylinder 45 by suitable conduits 46 is operatively connected to the power source furnished by the tractors T which are adapted to be connected to and pull the land leveler. The reciprocal plunger 41 of the pneumatic cylinder 45 is removably connected to the link arms 39, as hereinbefore described, so that upon actuation of the cylinder 45, the bearing element 16 together with the caster-type wheel mountings 30 may be pivoted through an arcuate path relative to the elongated axis of the blade 10 in a manner and for a punpose hereinafter described.

The horizontal structural member 43 terminates at its. free end into a socket housing 47, as seen in FIG. 5.

The socket housing 47 is also supported by a pair of converging diagonal truss members 48 which extend in a forward direction from the forward longitudinal member 11. The socket housing 47 rotatably contains a socket arm which extends between a tractor hitching tongue 49 and a supporting brace 50 associated therewith, as seen in FIG. 5. By this arrangement the tongue 49 is rotatably connected to the supporting structure furnished by the carriage 12. By this arrangement the tractors T when pulling the blade may be staggered, that is, one may be in advance of the other and the hitching tongue 49 rotate itself in the socket housing 47, so as to extend in a direct line from the tractor T, thus disposing the scraper blade through an angled plane with respect to the ground to be leveled.

As viewed in FIG. 6, a fixed hitching tongue 51 is adapted to extend from one end of the carriage 1. 2 so that the land leveler may be readily transported by a single tractor when it is not in use. As viewed in FIG. 6, the caster-type wheel mountings are shown in their elevated portable position.

To elevate the wheelmountings 30 into the position shown in FIG. 6, the operator will release the upper support arms 20 .by removing the bolt 19 so as to disconnect these arms 20 from the vertical supports 18 carried adjacent the confronting ends of the rear horizontal member 14. The pivot levers 37 are disconnected from their associated link arms 39 by removal of the bolt 38. The cylinder plunger 41 is disconnected from the ends of the link arms 39 by removing the pin thereof and is reconnected to the pivot link 42 through the bolt 52. Thus, when the pneumatic cylinder 45 is caused to operate so as to retract the plunger 41, the bearing element 16 is caused to rotate relative to its connection to the rear horizontal member 14 so as to rise the wheel mountings 30 in the direction of the arrows shown in FIG. 7 and into the positions shown in FIG. 6.

When the land leveler is in the condition shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the depth of cut of the scraper blade 10 can be regulated by the degree of rotation of the hearing elements 16 and through its connection to the wheel mounting 30, that is to say, the wheels may be pneumatically raised or lowered so as to determine the position of the blade 10 with respect to the ground thereunder.

To readily transport the land leveler, I provide on the forward and rear longitudinal members 11 and 14 a pair of downwardly disposed sockets 53 which receive connecting studs 54 provided by a wheel unit 55 as seen in FIG. 6.

From the foregoing description of the construction of my land leveler it is apparent that either tractor may pull ahead of the other tractor so as to determine the angular disposition of the blade 10 with respect thereto as it is pulled over the ground to be leveled so as to direct the removed ground in a manner to be displaced to either side of the path of the blade.

Each of the pneumatic cylinders 45 may be independently operated to determine the pivotal position of its corresponding caster-type wheel units 30 to cause the longitudinal angle of the blade 10 (from end to end) to vary according to the type of cut desired. The depth of the cut of the blade 10 can likewise be determined by the degree of pivotal displacements of the wheel units 30 relative to the horizontal plane of the frame 11 and blade 10.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A tractor drawn land leveler comprising an elongated rectangularly shaped tubular frame having forward 5 and rear elongated longitudinal structural members,

(a) a scraper blade mounted beneath said forward longitudinal structural member,

(b) a pair of ground engaging caster-type wheel units carried by said rear longitudinal structural member of said frame behind and intermediate the ends of said blade,

(0) means for pivotally connecting each of said wheel units to said rear longitudinal structural member,

(d) means for pivoting each of said wheel units in an arcuated path about a horizontal axis defined by said rear longitudinal structural member which is normally disposed between said blade and said castertype wheel units relative to said frame into and out of ground engaging position,

(e) a pair of tractor hitch means pivotally connected to the said forward longitudinal structural member intermediate the ends thereof for connecting and positioning said blade behind a pair of tractors whereby the positioning of said blade may be varied angularly about a vertical axial middle point thereof relative to the respective position of the tractors, and

(f) downwardly directed socket means provided by each of said longitudinal structural members for removably receiving vertical stud members of a wheeled frame for transportation of said leveler in the direction of its length with said blade and said wheel units out of ground engaging positions.

2. A tractor drawn land leveler comprising an elongated rectangularly shaped tubular frame having forward and rear elongated longitudinal structural members,

(a) a scraper blade mounted beneath said forward longitudinal structural member,

(b) a pair of ground engaging caster-type Wheel units carried by said rear longitudinal structural member of said frame behind and intermediate the ends of said blade,

(0) bearing elements carried by and rotatable with respect to said rear elongated longitudinal structural member for pivotally connecting each of said wheel units to said frame,

(d) means for pivoting each of said wheel units in an arcuated path about a horizontal axis defined by said rear longitudinal structural member which is normally disposed between said blade and said castertype wheel units relative to said frame into and out of ground engaging position,

(e) a pair of tractor hitch means pivotally connected to the said forward longitudinal structural member intermediate the ends thereof for connecting and positioning said blade behind a pair of tractors whereby the positioning of said blade may be varied angularly about a vertical axial middle point thereof relative to the respective position of the tractors,

(f) and downwardly directed socket means provided by each of said longitudinal structural members for removably receiving vertical stud members of a wheeled frame for transportation of said leveler in the direction of its length with said blade and said wheel units out of ground engaging positions.

3. A tractor drawn land leveler comprising an elongated rectangularly shaped tubular frame having forward and rear elongated longitudinal structural members,

(a) a scraper blade mounted beneath said forward longitudinal structural member,

(b) a pair of ground engaging caster-type wheel units carried by said rear longitudinal structural member of said frame behind and intermediate the ends of said blade,

(c) means for pivotally connecting each of said wheel, units to said rear longitudinal structural member,

(d) hydraulic pressure controlled means for pivoting each of said wheel units in an arcuated path and its connecting means about a horizontal axis defined by said rear longitudinal structural member which is normally disposed between said blade and said castertype wheel units relative to said frame for positioning each of said wheel units into and out of ground engaging position,

(e) a pair of tractor hitch means pivotally connected to the said forward longitudinal structural member intermediate the ends thereof for connecting and positioning said blade behind a pair of tractors whereby the positioning of said blade may be varied angularly about a vertical axial middle point thereof relative to the respective position of the tractors,

(f) and downwardly directed socket means provided by each of said longitudinal structural members for removably receiving vertical stud members of a wheeled frame for transportation of said leveler in the direction of its length with said blade and said wheel units out of ground engaging positions.

4. A tractor drawn land leveler comprising an elongated rectangularly shaped tubular frame having forward and rear elongated longitudinal structural members,

(a) a scraper blade mounted beneath said forward longitudinal structural member,

(b) a pair of ground engaging caster-type wheel units carried by said rear longitudinal structural member of said frame behind and intermediate the ends of said blade,

(c) bearing elements carried by and rotatable with respect to said rear elongated longitudinal structural member for pivotally connecting each of said wheel units to said frame,

(d) hydraulic pressure controlled means associated with each bearing element for rotating the same so as to pivot each of said wheel units in an arcuated path about a horizontal axis defined by said rear longitudinal structural member which is normally disposed between said blade and said caster-type wheel units formed by said bearing elements for positioning each of said wheel units relative to said frame into and out of ground engaging position,

(e) a pair of tractor hitch means pivotally connected to the said forward longitudinal structural member intermediate the ends thereof for connecting and positioning said blade behind a pair of tractors whereby the positioning of said blade may be varied angularly about a vertical axial middle point thereof relative to the respective position of the tractors,

(f) and downwardly directed socket means provided by each of said longitudinal structural members for removably receiving vertical stud members of a wheeled frame for transportation of said leveler in the direction of its length with said blade and said wheel units out of ground engaging positions.

5. A tractor drawn land leveler as defined by claim 4 wherein the hydraulic pressure controlled means comprise hydraulic cylinders and cooperating hydraulic pistons, said pistons being connectable to portions of said bearing elements for rotating the same relative to said frame.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,536,405 1/1951 Whittier 37180 2,699,715 1/1955 Shelton l72708 2,979,136 4/1961 Oehler et a1. l72248 ANTONIO F. GUIDA, Acting Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM A. SMITH III, Examiner. 

1. A TRACTOR DRAWN LAND LEVELER COMPRISING AN ELONGATED RECTANGULAR SHAPED TUBULAR FRAME HAVING FORWARD AND REAR ELONGATED LONGITUDINAL STRUCTURAL MEMBERS, (A) A SCRAPER BLADE MOUNTED BENEATH SAID FORWARD LONGITUDINAL STRUCTURAL MEMBER, (B) A PAIR OF GROUND ENGAGING CASTER-TYPE WHEEL UNITS CARRIED BY SAID REAR LONGITUDINAL STRUCTURAL MEMBER OF SAID FRAME BEHIND AND INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF SAID BLADE, (C) MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY CONNECTING EACH OF SAID WHEEL UNITS TO SAID REAR LONGITUDINAL STRUCTURAL MEMBER, (D) MEANS FOR PIVOTING EACH OF SAID WHEEL UNITS IN AN ARCUATED PATH ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS DEFINED BY SAID REAR LONGITUDINAL STRUCTURAL MEMBER WHICH IS NORMALLY DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID BLADE AND SAID CASTERTYPE WHEEL UNITS RELATIVE TO SAID FRAME INTO AND OUT OF GROUND ENGAGING POSITION, (E) A PAIR OF TRACTOR HITCH MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE SAID FORWARD LONGITUDINAL STRUCTURAL MEMBER INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF FOR CONNECTING AND POSITIONING SAID BLADE BEHIND A PAIR OF TRACTORS WHEREBY THE POSITIONING OF SAID BLADE MAY BE VARIED ANGULARLY ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIAL MIDDLE POINT THEREOF RELATIVE TO THE RESPECTIVE POSITION OF THE TRACTOR, AND (F) DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED SOCKET MEANS PROVIDED BY EACH OF SAID LONGITUDINAL STRUCTURAL MEMBERS FOR REMOVABLY RECEIVING VERTICAL STUD MEMBERS OF A WHEELED FRAME FOR TRANSPORTATION OF SAID LEVELER IN THE DIRECTION OF ITS LENGTH WITH SAID BLADE AND SAID WHEEL UNITS OUT OF GROUND ENGAGING POSITIONS. 